If you’re just looking for the quick number, I’ll give it to you straight: Kevin Durant has won two NBA championships. Both of those titles came back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
But honestly, if you follow basketball, you know that just saying "two" doesn't even begin to cover the drama, the Twitter beefs, and the legacy talk that follows KD everywhere. People still argue about those rings like they happened yesterday. Some fans say they’re the most dominant runs we’ve ever seen, while others—usually the ones wearing old OKC jerseys—still haven't forgiven him for how he got them.
It's 2026, and Durant is still out here climbing the all-time scoring list, now sitting at 7th after passing Wilt Chamberlain just a few days ago. He’s with the Houston Rockets now, but the conversation always loops back to those Golden State years.
How many championships has Kevin Durant won?
KD officially reached the mountain top twice.
He didn't just ride the bench for them, either. In both 2017 and 2018, he walked away with the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP trophy. Basically, he was the best player on the floor in a series that featured Steph Curry and LeBron James. That’s not a small feat, regardless of what the "bus rider" memes might tell you.
The 2017 Title: The "Redemption" Run
The 2016-17 season was wild. Durant had just left Oklahoma City to join a 73-win Warriors team. The pressure was suffocating. If he didn't win a ring that year, the internet might have actually exploded.
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
Instead, the Warriors went 16-1 in the playoffs. They nearly swept the entire postseason. In the Finals against Cleveland, KD was a monster. He averaged 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. He shot 47.4% from three. You remember that pull-up three over LeBron in Game 3? That shot basically iced the series and cemented his first ring.
The 2018 Title: The Repeat
The second one felt a bit more inevitable. By 2018, the Warriors were just a well-oiled machine of death. They swept the Cavaliers in the Finals. KD won his second straight Finals MVP, and it wasn't really even close. He dropped 43 points in Game 3 of that series when the rest of the team was struggling.
He finished that Finals sweep averaging 28.8 points. It was peak "Easy Money Sniper" hours.
Why Do People Still Debate His Rings?
You can't talk about how many championships has Kevin Durant won without mentioning the "asterisk" that critics love to bring up. It’s the elephant in the room.
The argument usually goes like this: Durant joined a team that was already the greatest regular-season team in history. Because he joined Steph, Klay, and Draymond, some folks feel those rings are "easier" than the ones won by guys like Giannis or Dirk who stayed with their original teams.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
But if you look at the stats, KD wasn't a passenger. He was the engine. In those two Finals runs, he was often the guy the Warriors turned to when their motion offense stalled out. He was the ultimate safety valve.
The Near Misses and The Injuries
If things had gone slightly differently, that number might be four or five.
- 2012: A young KD, Russ, and Harden made the Finals with OKC. They lost to LeBron’s Heat in five.
- 2019: Durant was on his way to a third straight title before his Achilles popped in the Finals against Toronto. If he stays healthy, the Warriors probably win that series.
- 2021: The famous "toe on the line" game. If KD’s foot is an inch back against the Bucks, the Nets probably win it all that year.
Beyond the NBA: The Olympic Gold
If we’re talking about "championships" in a broader sense, Durant is actually the most decorated male basketball player in history.
He has four Olympic Gold Medals (2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024). While some NBA fans only care about the Larry O'Brien trophy, KD has always treated Team USA with massive respect. He’s their all-time leading scorer. For a guy who just loves to hoop, those gold medals clearly mean just as much as the NBA hardware.
Where KD Stands in 2026
As of January 2026, Durant is 37 years old and playing for the Houston Rockets. He’s still averaging nearly 25 points a night. He just passed Wilt Chamberlain on the scoring list and is closing in on Dirk Nowitzki for 6th all-time.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
He’s a 15-time All-Star. He’s a former MVP (2014). He’s got the two rings.
Is he chasing a third? Always. Whether he gets it in Houston or somewhere else before he hangs them up is the big question. But for now, the record books show two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, and a legacy that—while controversial—is undeniable in its greatness.
Key Takeaways on KD's Legacy:
- Total NBA Titles: 2 (2017, 2018)
- Finals MVPs: 2 (Back-to-back)
- Olympic Success: 4 Gold Medals (Record holder for US Men’s Basketball)
- Scoring Prowess: Currently 7th all-time in NBA scoring (31,400+ points)
If you're tracking KD's career or comparing him to the greats, the best thing you can do is go back and watch the 2017 Finals tapes. Don't listen to the Twitter noise. Just watch the way he moved at 7 feet tall. It was rare then, and it’s still rare now.
Keep an eye on the Rockets' box scores for the rest of this 2025-26 season. He's only about 140 points away from passing Dirk Nowitzki, which will likely happen before the All-Star break.